RFA Apprenticeships

Joining the RFA on an Apprenticeship is your opportunity to gain the first-class maritime skills needed for a world-class career at sea. All your training will be completed at Royal Navy establishments, where your food and accommodation is free, just like the qualifications you’ll gain. And after that? You’ll be ready to join your crew, learning on the job and travelling the world.

What roles are available?

You’ll begin your career with 33 weeks training at HMS Sultan if Engineering Apprentice, 30 weeks for Chef, 10 weeks for Steward Apprentices at HMS Raleigh, 10 weeks returning for 4 later for Seaman Apprentices at HMS Raleigh, 17 weeks, with an additional 16 weeks later at HMS Collingwood. There you’ll learn everything you need to know about life at sea and earn your MCA Basic Safety Certificate. After that all your development will take place on the job. You go to sea for two phases of more advanced training, with your first period of leave in between. From there, how far you go is up to you.

“I joined as a Communications Information Systems (CIS) Apprentice because I’ve always had an aptitude for using the latest technology. This way I get to put those skills to good use where it really matters. I started by doing all of the mandatory firefighting, sea survival and first aid training, before completing a communications course. After that, I went to sea or the first time.

“Being part of a real crew was a great experience. I got to put my skills into practice and develop on the job. I even got to go on leave, which meant I could tell my family all about life at sea. After that there was a bit more professional training before my final sea phase and qualification.

“The whole process only took about two years, and I was getting paid at the same time. Now I’m a fully-fledged CIS Specialist, deploying all over the world in support of the Royal Navy.”